Flushometer.



PATBNTBD APR. 2, 1907.

R, A. BRQOKS,A FLUSHOMBTER. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 4,: 1903.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

PATENTE@ APR. 2, 1907. R. A. BROOKS. PLUSHOMETER.

APPLICATION IILED DBO. 4, 1903.

a SHEETS-SHEET '3.

x or tank in connection with urinals, water- 30 suspension, the small passage soon becomes UNITED STATES lPATENT 'OEEIOE.

ROBERT A. BROOKS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUSHONIETER.

ITO @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident \ofJChicago, Cook county, Illinois, have in- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushometers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the io letters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flushometers or flushing-valves adapted for use in lieu of the usual elevated reservoir closets, or wherever a flushing device is required. I

Heretofore of the many devices of the kind put uponthe market it has been usual to provide an interior chamber into which thei water or other flushing luidis allowed to enter through a very small aperture, the. accumulation of the iiuid in Said chamber actuating mechanism to close the flushingvalve after the same has been put in operation manually. Inasmuch as -the water usually used for flushing ,frequently con* tains various forms of animal and vegetable life, as well as sediment and matter held in restricted or entirely closed by the accumulation of the same rendering it impossible for the device to operate satisfactorily.

The object of this invention is to provide a flushometer which' mayA be either automaticin both openin land closing or automatic in closing o1 yh after having been actuated manually by an o erator, and in which the flushing Huid de ivered through 40 the lushometer is confined to the deliverychamber and outlet only, and in which, no matter how contaminated the iiuid delivered therethrough the closing mechanism is unaffected thereby.v

It is also an object of the invention to provide a comparatively cheap and simple though strong and durable construction of the class described and one not likely to get out of order through use. y e

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully-pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l i s a central vertical section taken through a ushometerl Specification of Letters Patent. Application mea Decanter 4,1903. Serin No. 183,790.v

Patented-April 2, I1907.-

adaptedto be both s elf gdggsan y andjembodyin my Invention' and showing the same close Fig. 2 is a top. planview of the. same. y Fig. 3 is a seotiontakenon F10.. liis a section similar line 3 3 of Fig. 1. to Fig. 1, showing the ushometer fully open. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

.Fig 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 :of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7is a central vertical section' of a flushometer embodyin my invention and adapted to be opened manually and to close automatically and shows vthe same fully closed. Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the iiushometer closed after'a preliminary flush.

As shown in said drawings, referring irst to the construction Shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, or, in other words, to the ushometer adapted to open'. and close automatically, A indicates ,.an' outer casing or body of the tlushometer, which is closed at the .top with a ca" vor cover A Near the bottom of the casing an inlet-*pipe a opens into one. side thereoh. affording a passage for the flushing iiuid to-be delivered through th'e iushometer.-

At the bottom of Saidcasing-section A is provided a discharge-pipe c', which, as shown,^ is

enlarged near its upper end and screw-threaded to engage in a threaded aperture" in the lower end of said casing A. The upper end of said pipe a/ extends upwardly within the water-chamber in said casing and is'shaped L to afford a seat for a flushing-valve vC', as shown in Fig 1, which closes the dischargepipe a. able longitudinally therein is adeep cup B, having .a close-fitting cup-shaped coverB screw-threaded thereon.. A piston Dziis pro- Fittingr in said casing and` movvided in said cup and provided with a tubiilar piston-rod D., which extends Iupwardly through the cover B and has screw-threaded engagement in said cap A and from which a Small aperture opens throughthe piston and intowhich a restricted-port d opens above the piston, as shownin Fig. l'. A rod d', provided at its upper end with a screw-threaded head d2, which has threaded yengagement in the upper end of the piston-rod, extends aidally of said rodand is provided' at its'l'ower end Vwith a pin, which partly closes the aperture opening through the.piston\acting as a needle-valve to control the rate of flow therethrough. Having threaded engagement in said cap A l and extending therethrough and ros ture through the piston' is. restricted at its lower end, so that screwing said rod E inwardly not only restricts the ports e, but also limits the movement of the valve e, thus affording desired adjustment to control the llow of' luid. A coiled spring E2 engages against the under` side of said cap A and on said cover B', and 4acts normally to force said cup, with its contents, to the low'est point of its adjustment, as'shown in Fig. 1. Inte-- grally. connected with the bottom of said cup are the downwardly-extending arms b, connected at their lower end with a transverse head b', provided with -a central downwardly-extending threaded boss b2 and apertured axially to receive the tubular valvestem c of the flushing-valve C, which extends upwardly therethrough and is provided at its upper end with an enlarged flanged head c, apertured to afford a seat for the downwardly-opening spring-controlled valve c2, which affords an outlet for the flushing fluid should the same rise above the head b. AA

ypiston C is carried on said head b and, as

shown, comprises a sheet of leather c3 or other 'suitable material` ailordmg a-hyd iaulic packing and which fits closely in saidlcasmg and is held lirmly against said head by the.

flanged follower c4, which has threaded engagementwith the boss b2 and is provided in itsend with an inwardly-directed flange c5, between which and the end of the boss b is provided a seat to receive hydraulic packing c", which prevents leakage along the stem c. Bearing against the inner side oil the head b and beneath the flanged head c is a coiled spring l2, which acts normally to hold said flushing-valve elevated into proximity with the piston. The llushing-valve C may be constructed in any desi :ed manner. 'As shown, however, the same comp-iscs a llange orisaid stem c and a liber washer c7, engaged beneath the same and held in position by means` of a conical nut c, as shown in Figs. l and 4.

I The construction illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 is a modified form of that bcl'oic described and is adapted to be manually actuated in flushing and to-close automatically.

ln this E construction the casing A is ol' a unitary nature and the lower end c thorcol' is thrcadcd forconncctlon with the device to bc llushcd. An vinlet-pipe a7. is integrally crmnccted 1n said casing A3 between the middle part thereof and the lower end, and an enlarged cylinder or chamber a7 is provided between said inlet and outlet pipes and provided inits bottom with a raised annular seat al? to receive the flushing-valve U4, which is a simple pistonvalve of any desired construction, but, as shown, provided with an upper and alower valve-plate c1 c, between which is engaged a packing-washer of leather, indurated liber, or other suitable material adapted to bear on said seat c, and all o? which are rigidly secured together by means of the end-threaded tubular stem C5, which opens through said piston-valve and extends upwardly there-.

cup G, which, as shown, fits closely in the v bore of the casing A3 and slides upwardly therein Awith the movements of said valves. Said cup is provided at its upper end with internal screw-threads in which a head G is secured. The upper end of said casing A3 is closed by a cap d, provided with a downwardly-extending peripheral flange, ywhich has threaded engagement with said casing; At the center of said cap (L9 is provided a downwardly-extending tube g', which, as shown, is integrally connected with the under side of said cap and which lits closely in a central aperture in said head G and is of a length'fto4 extend through said. head when the llushing-valve (,f is seated. llaving threaded engagement ,in the lower end oisaid tube-g is a valve-body g, which7 as shown, is conical, with the base thereof directed downwardly. Said valve-body is cored lo provide a relatively large interior cavity. which opens through the base into the cup through a relatively small aperture. 'l`hrcaded in the upper end of the tubo g am extending ccntrally through thc cap 1" and extern-ally slotted for engagement with a screw-driver or the like is a valve-stem g, which is conical on its inner cnd to lit in the scat of said valve-body ff and which is of a length to admit ol adjustment inwardly or outwardly to regulate thc passagc through said valvcbody and all'ording together lhcrcwith a uccdlc-valvc. Supported on said valve-body g'i is thc slidingl head (li, which lits closely in thc cup (l and to thc Iowcr cnd ol' said valvebody whcn thc lhlshoniclcc is in acloscd position, owingr to thc conical l'orm ol' thc same,v

IOO

i thereby providing a-relatively small .space 'A .between the same and the head G, in which l anges g4 hea G2.

said valve-body g2 at a point below the lower end of the tube g and, as shown,l the lower end of said tubeis notched to provide chan- I nels opening upwardly therefrom.

Any desired means may be employed for manually operating the device. As shown,

I however, a weighted lever H is pivoted within .VIS

the casing and pivotally engaged on the stem g of the cup G, and the -handle thereof eX- tends outwardly through a slot in said casing vin position to be manually engaged.

- The operation is as follows: Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it is evident that inasmuch as the flushing-valve closing the dischargepassage is much smaller than the piston C the fluid-pressure on said piston is normally considerably greater than on the flushing- .valve and, supposing the device to have just flushed and the chamber B of the cup to be filled with mercury, oil, or other fluid, as shown in Fig. 1, both above and below the piston Dzjthe upward pressure of-the liquid to be flushed on the piston C acts to force said cup upwardly against the tension of the 4springs E2 and C2, the tubular stem c sliding through the stufling-box in the flushingvalve vcompressing said' spring C2. The upward movement of the cup slowly forces the fluid therein .upwardly through the apertures in the piston. As the mercury or other fluid slowiy rises above the piston the tension constantly becomes greater on said :springs until the head b contacts with the sleeve of the flanged head cl and lifts .the fiushing-valve. Thev spring C2 now acts to snap the flushing-valve high above its seat, as shown in Fig. 4, opening the disch arge-passage fully. In this position it is to be observed that approximately all of the Huid in the cup has been yforced above the piston D2. The spring E2, fully compressed, now actsvto force the cup B and piston .C downwardly.

Before vthis can be accomplished, however,l

the fluid must pass through the valves in said piston D into the cup below the same. This return flow can of course be controlled or regulated by the adjustment of the valves in said piston to permit the closure to be slow or rapid, as preferred. The release of the flushing-valve from its seat having caused the same to be forced upwardly on the stem c by its spring C2, the cup and the piston C must descend a suflicient distance to. return the same to approximately their normal positions, or that show n in Fig. 1, before the` flushing-valve is in position to seat., after which the unequal pressures on said valve and piston C causes the operation to be repeated at regular intervals dependent upon during a part of the upward and the down-.

ward movement of the cup.

The operation of the construction illustrated inv Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially the same as that beforedescribed. The cup G is divided into an upper and a lower chamber by means of the partition G2, supported upon the valve-body g2, and 'with the cup filled with mercury, oil, lor other suitable fluid upward movement ofthe lever H H acts to lift the valve C, starting flow through the flushometer and forcing fluid outwardly through the needle-valve and above the partition G2. Said partition is held from upward move-1 ment by the end of the pipe g, while the cup, with the head G', moves upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8, the fluid continuing to rise upwardly through the needle-valve I drops to its lowest point on the valve-body,

opening up .the port Vthrough said valve-body, through which the fluid slowly flows, rad- .ually increasing the weight in the lowerc amber of the c-up and carrying the valves downwardly until the lower valve C1 is in position 1 toy seat and close the fiushometer. In said Figs. 7 and 8 the'chamber above the valveseat 0,8 is shown relatively short vertically, so v that When the cup is pushed upwardly, as

shown in Fig. 8, a fore-flush is provided byv said flushing-valve first rising from its seat and then entering the bore of said casing, closingv the same below the inlet-passage. When so constructed, the flow ceases until the valve is allowed to descend into the chamber above the seat as, when the flushing is completed. -This construction is particularly valuable in flushing closets, in which instance an actuating-rod H engages below the cup and -is connected by operating-levers in the usual or any desired manner with the closetseat, so that pressure on the seat acts to lift the valve C* to the position shown in Fig. 8, and the valves are supported in said position until the Weight is removed from the seat, when. the flushin operation is completed las the-valve deseen s.

Obviously, inasmuch. as mercury, oil, glyc-- erin, or other suitable material is used in the' cups and is free from sediment or other .ma-

izo

terial adapted to clog any of the valves embeen once adjusted will continue to 'operate construct-ion 11i-auty be Varied. without (reparting from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my mVent1on- 1. ln an automatically openmg and clos? ing ilushometer the combination with a closed casing having an inlet-passage and an outlet-passage, of a ilushing-valve seated on the outlet-passage, a piston positioned above the inlet-passage, a inox-'able cup ahove said piston and comprising an upper and a lower chamber, a valve between the chambers, a iluid norn'iallvr tilting the lower chamber, meansoperated b) the upward movement ot' the piston acting to force said iluid from one to the other'of said. chambers, means acting normallyr to torce the cup dowmvardlj', a yielding connection between the flushingvalve and the piston whereby upward movement of the piston acts to lift the flushingvalve and support the same al: ove its seat. until said piston has returned to near its normal position, and means retarding the return flow of the iluid in said cup acting to retard closure of th flushing-valve.

2. In an automaticalljvT operating v{lushometer the combination with a closed casing, of a loiigitudinallvmovable cup secured. therein andcontaininga tlu' a iixed division-wall separating the same into an upper and a lower chamber and provided with a restricted passage through which said chambers communicate, a piston seated in said casing below said cup, means movable thereby acting to force the [luid from one ebaniler through said restrie passage into the ted other, means acting norma-lhv to hold Asaid piston at the lower limit of its "movement, a ilushing-valve connected with the piston and adapted to close with the pressure and means acting to hold said tlushing-valve above its seat during a part ol the movement ol` the piston.

3. In an automatically-operating tlushometer thc, co1nliination with a closed casing, ol' an inlet and an outletl pipe connected therein, a lushit g-valve seated to close the outlet-pipe with .the pressure, a piston positioned above the inlet-pipe, a dounwardh'- extending tubular stem opening through the piston and passing through the flushingvalvc, a [luid-containing eup above the piston and means operated by pressure ot' said fluid acting tocontrol the movement of said valve, a spring on said stem bearing up- Wardly on said flushing-valvewhe'reby upward movementl of the piston acts to com press said spring until the flushing-valve is raised Iwhereupon said spring holds said valve above its seat until the piston is returned to approximately its normal position.

4. In an automatic tlushometer the combinationwith a closed casing, of an inletpipe opening thereinto, a discharge pipe opening therefrom below the inlet-pipe, a flushing-valve seated on the discharge-pipe and adapted to close the same with the pressure, a piston of greater diameter positioned above the same and closing the casing abovey the inlet7 a downwardly-extending tubular stem onsaid p1stonwh1ch opens therethrough and passes through the flushing-valve, a`

spring carried thereon and bearing upwardly on the ilushing-valve and resisting upward movement of the piston and fluid-operatedI means acting to regulate the flushing and retard the closing after ushing.

5. In an automatic tlushometer the combination with a closed casing, of an inlet and an .outlet pipe connected therein, a vtlushingvalve seated to close the outlet-pipe withthe pressure, a piston seated to close the casin'g above the inletlvalve, a stern connecting the valve and pist-on and slidably engaged in one of the same, a spring carried on said stem and acting to elevate the flushing-valve when unseated, asprng acting normally to resist up-y ward movement of the piston, ,and Huid-operated. means actuated byA said piston and acting to regulate the vflushing and closing the ilushing-valve- 6. ln an automatic ilushometer the combi-A nation with a cylindric casing, of an apertured partition secured therein out of contact with thev side walls thereof, a iiston in said easing, a closed cu thereon slidably engaged intermediate sai( casing and said parn tition, a tluid in said cup, a 'flushing-valve adapted to seat with the pressure'and to remain seatedduring part ol. the travel of the piston and means act-ing to force said fluid from one sident' the partition to the other.

7. ln an automatically opening and closing tlushometer the combina-tion with a casing el .1n inlet and an outlet pipe connected therein, a. piston positioned above the inletpipe, a lushing-valve yieldingly connected therein and normall \Y closing thc outlet-passage a nd ot' less area than the piston, a cup above the pistou, a valved 'partition dividing 8. In an automatic iiushometer the combination with a finishing-valve, at the bottom of the water-chamber adapted to close with the pressure, of a cup positioned above the Water chamber, means adapted to move said cup independently of the ilushing-val ve, a valved partition suspended from the top oi the casing and dividing the cup into upper and lower chambers, a iiuid in one or more ol.' said chambers, means operated by the movement of the cup acting to raise the iiushingvalve and simultaneously force the fluid in the cup from one side oi' the partition to the other and means retarding the flow of said fluid acting to regulate the reseating of the flushing-valve.

9. In a self opening and closing lushometer, the combination with a closed casing, of

an inlet and an outlet pipe connecting therein, a piston above the inlet-pipe, a flushingvalve of smaller diameter yieldingly connected therewith and positioned to close the discharge orifice and affording a waterchamber between said valves, a reciprocating cup secured in the easing above the piston, a valved partition therein, adapting the cup to move thereon and dividing the same into a lurality of chambers, a iiuid artly illi ng tile cup, and means operated by tiie upward movement oi the piston acting to cause displacement of the fluid in one of the chambers of said cup, and a spring acting to seat the flushing-va ve and reverse the flow of the iluid in the cup and means retarding said How. Y l

l0; In an automaticallyoperated flushometer, the combination with a closed casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, of a piston above the inlet-opening, a flushingvalve closing the outlet-opening with the pressure and adapted to remain seated while the piston travels therefrom, means regulating the operation of said valve and piston embracing a. closed cup carried on said piston, a valved partition therein rigidly engaged on the casing, a fluid partly filling the cup and operative connection between said valve and the cup acting to trip the valve and time the operation thereof by the ilow ot [luid through the chambers ol" the cup and means regulating said low therethrough.

11. ln a self opening and closing lushometer the combination with the easing, of an in'- let and outlet pipe connected therein, a {lushing-valve seated to close the outlet-pipe with the pressure, a piston in said casing above the inlet-pipe and of' greater diameter than the ilushing-valve, a longitudinally-movable cup above the piston, a valved partition therein adapting the cup to move thereon and dividing the same into chambers, a lluid filling one or more of said chambers, means operatively connected with the piston acting to force said fluid from chamber to chamber in said -cup during the upward movement of the piston -and a spring actingI to close the liushinglstern thereon provided with a flanged head, a

reciprocating piston intermediate said valve and said head, means engaged between the piston and head adapted to unseat said valve when the piston reaches the upward limit of its travel, a closed cup carried on said piston, an apertured partition therein non-movable with respect to said cup and afluid in said cup `adapted to pass through said partition during the operation of the flushing-valve.

- 13. In a flushometer the combination with a cylindric casing of an apertured partition secured therein out of contact With the side walls thereof, a piston in said casing, a tubular stem extending therethrough,a closed cup in said casing and slidably engaged intermediate the same and said partition, a fluid said cup vand a valve in'said partition affording a more rapid flow of said iiuid therethrough in one direction .than in the other. A

14. In a flushometer the combination with a casing having inlet and outlet `apertures therein, of an apertured partition sus end ed in said casing out of contact with t e side Walls thereof, a piston movable in said casing, a flushing-valve thereon adapted to control the outlet, a cup carried above the piston and movable thereby and projecting between the partition and easing, a lluid in said cup adapted to pass back and forth through the partition and means in said partition affording a more rapidflow of said fluid in one direction than in the other.

15. In a i'lushometer the combination With a easing having inlet and outlet apertures therein of a ilushing-valve seated to control said outlet, a partition in said casing, a cup operatively connected with said valve and adapted to slidably engage between said partition and easing, a fluid in said cup and .means in said partition adapted to permit' said iluid to llow through the partition faster in one direction than in the other.

16. ln a llushomcter the combination with a easing havingl outlet and inlet ports therein, of a valve controlling the outlet-port, an apertured partition in saidcasing, a controlling iluid in said casing disconnected from the flushing lluid, means lor forcing said controlling lluid back and forth through the partition and means aii'ording a faster flow ol' said lluid in one direction through the partition than in the other.

17. ln a llushoineter the combination `with a easing having an inlet and an outlet opening therein, a valve seated te close the outletopening, a piston in said casing above the inlet-opening, a valve-stem on said valve IIO extending pwardly through thepiston, a In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subclosed cup in the casing adapted to be moved V scribed my :name in the 'presence of two 'sbe- 1c vertically 1hoy-said piston, an operating Huid soribing' witnesses. 'i therein, a stationary apertured partition in said Cup and means in Said artition adapted h'OBERT A BROOKS to permit a more rapid ow of said Huid Titnessesz therethrough in one direction than in the l C. W. HILLS, other. ALFRED C. ODELL. 

